Controlling mechanism for electric switches



C D, OVERS CONTROLLING MECHAPHSM FOR ELEGTFHC SWITCHES.

APPLICAUON FILED MAR, 15) 1919.

WITNESS.-

A TTORN E Y.

Faaanted A ir. 13, 1920,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR. i %M MA 4m .TTORNEY D. OVERSMITH. CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICSWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1919.

WITNESS:

C. D. OVERSMITH.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES. APPLICATION F'JLED MAR. 15. 191.9.

. 1,337,022, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IINVENTOR.

a? MW- y WITNESSES:

CLARENCE D. OVEESMITI-I,

OF LIMA, OHIO.

CONTROLLING MECH.A.1\TI.S1VI FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed March 15. 1919. Serial No. 282,952.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, (lmnmvon D. Ovnn- SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Mechanism for Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanisms for controlling electric switches by which the electric current can be turned on at a given time, allowed to remain on until a given time, and then automatically shut off.

The objects of my invention are to provide a mechanism which can be set in connection with a clock, to throw an electric switch at a given time, thus turning on the current, and set to automatically throw the switch at another time and turn off the current. I attain these objects by the mechanisms shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my device for operating the main switch together with the device for actuating the contact mechanism. which in turn causes the current to be shut off from the switch actuating motor; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch and switch operating device with the side frame. removed; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the :line B-B of Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is a cross section of the sliding cam 40 on the line A ;i of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detailed plan view of the main switch; Fig. 6 shows two detailed views of the sliding cam lever 39; Fig. 7 is a vertical elevation of the contact making and breaking mechanism; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the contact breaker; Fig. 9 shows two detailed views of the contact slide and Fig. 10 is a detailed view of the contact cams.

'Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My device is intended for use in connection with a snap or spring switch, which may be of any standard design, used to turn on the current from any municipal or other electric current system, with wires 53, 53, 54:, and 54? connected in pairs with the source-of current supply and with the lamps used to illuminate signs, advertising matter, or any other matter which it is desired to light.

These switches are provided with springs so that ,they will not turn until a given pressure has been applied and the spring will then act to throw the switch into or out of contact, as the case may be, quickly without any further turning motion of the switch handle. Switches of this type are well known and no separate claim is made for this particular type of switch.

In my device, I have shown such a switch in Fig. 5; and Fig. 2 shows the case inclosingthe switch. The stem 36 of the main switch has a worm gear 35 rigidly secured to it which is driven by a worm 3&1 suitably secured to a shaft 33 mounted in the frame B.

The frame of my device consists of a base A which may be of slate, wood, metal, or any other suitable material, and a frame B which may be of skeleton form to secure lightness and is preferably constructed of metal.

On the inner end of the shaft 33, a worm gear 32 is secured, driven by a worm 31 mounted upon a shaft 3O upon one end of which the large spur gear wheel 30 is secured. This gear wheel 30 .is driven by pinion 29 secured upon the end of the armature shaft 28* which forms part of the electric motor 27, suitably secured to and within the frame B. This motor is actuated by a current through the wires 25 and 26 which are suitably connected with a battery or transformer. A battery of any standard design may be used and no separate claims are made for a battery in this application.

The current is turned on to operate the motor 27, by the contact making and breaking mechanism shown in Fig. 7 in which 12 and 13 are cams adjustably secured upon the shaft 10 which is operated by a clock mechanism 3 through the gears 7 and 9. These cams 12 and 13 are so positioned as to raise the slide, 15 into contact with the point of the screw, 24, which is suitably connected to one side of the electric line, the other side of which is carried by the wire 26 and thence to the contact making and breakingslide 15. When the cam 12 comes in contact with the dog or shoulder 17 formed upon the slide 15, it raises the slide so that it comes in contact with the contact point 2 1 thus closing the circuit between wires 26 and 25 causing the current to flow through wire '25 and starting the electric motor 27. This operates the worm gears 34 and 35 and they in turn revolve the shaft 36 until the main switch 36 is shown, which turns on the current from the source of supply to the lamps of the illuminating device.

In order to stop the electric motor before it again throws the switch, a cam 38 is secured-to the upper end of the switch shaft 36. The points of this cam, when revolving, engage the dog or shoulder formed upon the cam lever 39 which slides upon the bar 42. The opposite end of the cam lever 39 is secured by a bolt or pivot to the cam etO and as it is drawn forward by the cam 38, it in turn causes the cam 40 to make a partial revolution upon the shaft 61 and by reason of the point 43 and the groove 63, the cam, as it revolves, is moved laterally against the spring 62. Vhen the cam .20 has reached its farthest point of travel it is forced backward upon the shaft 61 by the spring 62 and at the same time partially rotated upon the shaft (31 by the tension spring 40 so that the point 43 comes in contact with the contact point (30, thus completing the circuit in the wires 47 and 49. The other ends of which 7 and 49 carry the current to the electromagnet 50, electrifying the poles thereof and causing bar 51 to be sharply drawn to the poles of the electromagnet.

A striking head 52 is formed upon the bar 51 which strikes a head 16 formed upon the contact slide 15 driving it backward so as to clear the point of the cam 12, allowing the slide, 15, to drop, thus breaking the circuit between wires 26 and 25 and stopping the motor 27.

When the clock brings the cam 1.3 into contact with the shoulder 17, the foregoing operation is repeated and the main switch being thrown, cuts off the current from the illuminating device.

My invention not only furnishes a means by which the electric current can be turned on and off at predetermined times but also aflords means for operating the switche at any desired distance from the clock or time piece. The cams making the initial connection with the electric current can be mounted upon the clock shaft, which carries the hands of the clock, if desired instead of upon a separate shaft as shown. My invention also provides means by which the main switch can be thrown quickly instead. of by a slow movement and means by which the current can be cut off before the switch is carried past the desired point.

What I claim is:

1.' In an operating mechanism for electric switches, the combination with suitable wiringcarrying an electric current, of a clockdriven cam, a circuit closer adapted to be operated by the cam, an electric motor actuated by the electric current, an el ctric switch adapted to be thrown by the action of the motor, a cam mounted on the shaft of the switch adapted. to en gage and operate a reciprocating link slidingly mounted adjacent the cam and having one end connected to a rotatable cam fitted with electric connections which, when the cam is partially rotated, close an electric circuit through an electromagnct, a striker bar actuated by the electromagnet the head of which is adjusted to strike the end of the circuit closer and dislodge the circuit closer from its contact with the clock-driven cam.

2. In a mechanism for operating electric switches, the combination with suitable wiring carrying an electric current of a plurality of adjustable clockdriven cams, a circuit closer adapted to be operated by the cams, an electric motor actuated by the electric current, an electric switch adapted to be thrown by gears driven by the motor, a cam mounted on the shaft of the switch adapted to engage and operate a reciprocating link slidingly mounted adjacent the cam and having one end connected to a rotatable cam fitted with electric connections which, when the cam is partially rotated, close an electric circuit through an electromagnet, a striker bar actuated by the electromagnet the head of which is adjusted to strike the end of the circuit closer and dislodge the circuit closer from its contact with the clocledriven cams.

3. In an operating mechanism for electric switches, the combination with suitable wiring carrying an. electric current, of a clock, a cam driven by the clock, a metal lever having one end. suitably secured and its opposite end free to move within certain limits, a shoulder formed on the lever between the ends thereof positioned so as to form a contact with the cam at each revolution of the cam, and so formed as to allow the cam to raise the free end of the lever to form a contact with a suitable contact point mounted adjacent thereto, such lever being formed of two parts adapted to move longitudinally upon each other and held in normal position. by a spring secured to the lever and to the frame, an electromagnet with an extended bar mounted upon a spring having a head formed on the extension thereof positioned to strike the end of the lever when the extended bar is drawn against the poles of the magnet, and means for closing the circuit supplying current to the electromagnet.

4. In an operating mechanism for electric switches, the combination with suitable wiring carrying an electric current, of a clock, cams driven by the clock, a metal lever having one end suitably secured and its opposite end free to move within certain limits, a shoulder formed on the lever between the ends thereof positioned so as to form a contact with the cams at each revolution of the cams and so formed as to allow the cams to raise the free end of the lever to form a contact with a suitable contact point mounted adjacent thereto, such lever being formed of two parts adapted to move longitudinally upon each other and held in normal position by a spring secured to the lever and to the frame, an electromagnet with an extended bar mounted upon a spring having a head formed on the extension thereof positioned to strike the end of the lever when the extended bar isdrawn against the poles of the magnet, and means for closing the circuit supplying current to the electromagnet.

5. In an operating mechanism for electric switches, the combination with suitable wiring carrying an electric current, of a clock, a cam driven by the clock, a metal lever having one end suitably secured and its opposite end free to move within certain limits shoulder formed on the lever between the ends thereof positioned so as to form a contact with the cam at each revolution of the cam, so formed as to allow the cam to raise the free end of the lever to form a contact with a suitable contact point mounted ad jacent thereto, such lever being formed of two parts adapted to move longitudinally upon each other and held in normal position by a spring secured to the lever and to the frame, an electromagnet with an extended bar mounted upon a spring ha ing a head formed on the extension thereof positioned to strike the end of the lever when the extended bar is drawn against the poles of the magnet, means for closing the circuit supplying current to the electromagnet, an electric motor actuated by the electric current, an electric switch adapted to be thrown by the action of the motor, a cam mounted on the shaft of the switch adapted to engage and operate a lever which in turn is connected to and operates a rotatable cam fitted with electric connections which, when the cam is partially rotated, close an electric circuit through an electromagnet, and a striker bar actuated by the electromagnet the head of which is adjusted to strike the end of the circuit closer and dislodge the circuit closer from its contact with the clockdriven cam.

6. In an operating mechanism for electric switches, the combination with suitable wir ing carrying an electric current, of a clock, cams driven by the clock, a metal lever having one end suitably secured and its oppoite end free to move within certain limits, a shoulder formed on the lever between the ends thereof positioned so as to form a contact with the cams at each revolution of the cams and so formed as to allow the cams to raise the free end of the lever to form a contact with a suitable contact point mounted adjacent thereto, such lever being formed of two parts adapted to move longitudinally upon each other and held in normal position by a spring secured to the lever and to the frame, an electromagnet with an extended bar mounted upon a spring having a head formed on the extension thereof positioned to strike the end of the lever when the extended bar is drawn against the poles of the mag et, means for closing the circuit supplying current to the electromagnet, an electric motor actuated by the electric current, an electric switch adapted to be thrown by the action of the motor, cams mounted on the shaft of the switch adapted to engage and operate a lever which in turn is connected to and operates rotatable cams fitted with electric connections which, when the cams are partially rotated close an electric circuit through an electromagnet, and a striker bar actuated by the electromagnet the head of which is adjusted to strike the end of the circuit closer and dislodge the circuit closer from its contact with the clock-driven cams.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE D. OVERSMITH lVitnesses:

R. CLAUssnN, HERBERT E. Srrz. 

